LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

This week, the Alabama Legislature continued with a regular two-day schedule. The session convened on Tuesday and Thursday, with Wednesday packed full of committee meetings until late afternoon. There was a slight slowdown in the introduction of new bills, with 209 bills filed in the Senate and 377 in the House of Representatives. Ten legislative days are now complete.

One bill introduced this week aims to benefit the court system by bringing treatment courts—such as drug courts, mental health courts, and veterans courts—under a single umbrella, to be renamed Accountability Courts.

Two court cost bills were introduced this week:

• HB 348 (Russell County) would allow an increase in probate fees of up to $10.
• HB 368 (Elmore County) would increase court costs by $100 in all cases (except traffic), with an additional $5 increase each year. In addition, it establishes a $100 booking fee, which will also increase by $5 annually. If enacted, Elmore County would have the highest filing fees in the state.

Other notable bills introduced this week include legislation to establish a National Guard Legal Services Office, a parental leave bill for state employees, and proposed improvements to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

In committee meetings, both Judiciary Committees had packed agendas, as did the Public Safety Committee, which continues to receive an increasing number of crime-related bills.

Key legislative actions this week:

• A bill expanding judicial discretion in split sentences received a public hearing. This would provide judges with greater discretion in determining time served and increased jurisdiction on the back end.
• The Speedy Trial Act advanced out of committee in both the House and Senate.
• Legislation addressing the recall of warrants in municipal courts under certain circumstances also moved forward.
• Bills amending Aniah’s Law, addressing the abuse of elders, and expanding electronic monitoring opportunities made progress.
• A bill requiring parental notification of teen traffic tickets was also on the move.

A variety of criminal justice bills are under consideration. Please refer to the legislative tracking section below for a complete list. Additionally, any miscellaneous legislation can be found under the civil designation.

As always, the Alabama State Bar encourages all members to be aware of legislation that may impact court costs and fees. Access to justice is a priority. Please be aware of advertisements that may be occurring for local bills and those that may already be filed to use the courts as a fundraiser for non-court entities. We encourage you to be informed and notify us as well.

LEGISLATIVE TRACKING

The Alabama State Bar provides legislative status reports concerning pending legislation that may be of interest to our members. The reports divide legislation into the following categories for your convenience: civil/general, court costs, criminal, domestic relations, elections ethics, and government relations (EEGR), judiciary, and tax.

You can find our comprehensive updated bill-tracking spreadsheet here.

Look Up A Specific Bill Here

LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

The 2025 regular session of the Alabama Legislature will continue as follows:

• The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, Mar. 4 at 2:00 p.m.
• The House has adjourned until Tuesday, Mar. 4 at 1:00 p.m.